Building a house to country side

[jbecker 0]

I know - this is kind of off-topic but indirectly related to Pattaya.

 

I suppose there are several people who has built or helped a girl to build a house somewhere no-where Issan area.

 

I am one of those too The house is located (well, it is not completely ready) very close, about 20km, to Buriram. It has been a very interesting time but no major surprises.

 

Would like to hear your experiences as well, and if you recognize Huai Rach then you know where the house is situated. Even better if you are living nearby, feel free to contact and PM. I will be there starting from 25th of Sep.

 

Currently I am living in China but visit there every now and then.

 

Cheers

 

jb

[carpediem 0]

my gf wants me to build a house on land that her father will give her next door to his own (very) humble home - in the countryside near pak chong. i know that if the relationship breaks down i'd have to 'walk away' and leave her the house - that a lease to me etc will be meaningless in the circumstances. so i'm not going to jump into this - yet. but if i do go ahead i'd want to assume things work out and therefore build to a good standard. i have in mind a 2 bedroom thai style house - elevated, partly in wood, etc. i'd want to work with an architect who'd done this sort of house before. i was wondering if someone has knowledge of how such architects can be found, or can recommend one; and if someone has an idea of the costs. i'd be interested to know what i'd be staking in financial terms and the headaches involved.

 

all thoughts, caveats, advice and pointers would be much appreciated.

 

cd

[Bullfrog 2,224]

I lived in Isaan for several years. I eventually got divorced and am much happier living in Kamphaenphet. You are both right regarding building a house in the countryside .No matter what you do legally and with pre nuptial agreements, if you seperate or divorce you will NEVER live there afterwards by yourself even if you own it. This may only change if you are unfortunate enough to become widowers where friends or even sisters of your departed wife want to jump in ( This happened to a friend). So don't spend too much...even to the state of only having one room with aircon if you need it.

 

Instead spend money on a decent car and buy it in your name..don't listen to people who say it will be difficult to sell under a farang name. My next advice is NEVER sell the car, no matter what happens in your life, this is your insurance.

 

NEVER start drinking Saysap degree regularly. Drinking it doesn't make you a local - it makes you suicidal.

 

Find something to do and try to find a Farang who lives 20 to 30km away..not too close for friendship but close enough for your sanity.

 

Don't get dissheartened, out of four of us that married TGs in '97 I am the only one that divorced!!!

 

Good Luck Guys!!

[carpediem 0]

My next advice is NEVER sell the car, no matter what happens in your life, this is your insurance.

 

bullfrog, can please you explain that bit - "insurance"?

 

cd

[Bullfrog 2,224]

It was the same advice that was given to me by a Farang living in the next village many years ago. ( he had been there 20 years but now sadly deceased)..unfortunately I didn't heed his advice.

 

If you spend over a million on a car and put it in your name then you have physical and financial security.i.e. Your "insurance" against anything going tits up in your life. I am fifty years old now and know enough about life to understand that there are potential disasters out there, everywhere. If one happens to you at any time and you can't cope just jump in YOUR car, drive to Pattaya, sell it and you have enough money to live for 6 months regaining your life. You need a car in the village anyway so it's not wasted expenditure.

 

Now then, I am sure those sharp eyed people will notice that I say NEVER sell the car and that the insurance is to sell it. If the time comes ( and I hope it never does) you will interpret this contradiction as required.

Edited September 13, 2006 by Bullfrog

[carpediem 0]

thanks for the explanation.

 

the question of minimizing expenditure on a house is a problem if one is going to live there - and things don't go belly up. (cutting off your nose to spite your face?). especially as quite a bit of land is being offered. but on the whole i'm inclined to play safe - for now. pity no-one has offered any specific tips on that score.

 

cd

[Bullfrog 2,224]

Yes mate, I understand..nobody has given positive feedback.

 

Using me as an example I have already alluded to the fact that I am one out of four that married in '96 that divorced after 8 years. The other three are living good, fruitful existances on the edge of large towns around Thailand in beautifull houses that happen to be each of the kind mentioned ( Farang style, thai brick style and thai wooden style). As for me I will go for a small farang style in Kamphaengphet, once bitten forever shy I am affraid.

 

My only remaining advice try to build in whatever style you wish but not stick out too much as"The farang's house"

[whitespider 1]

A good starting point would be to understand and consider what you are upgrading from. My wife built a house for her parents/family (at her expense not mine).

 

It was breeze block/wood/plaster/blue hard plastic corrugated roof - 2 storey. Has 3 beds living area bathroom and thai kitchen. No aircon but tiled throughout. It is NOT a stilted house it has the living area downstairs. I have only visited it once but it seems very sound.

 

It cost around £2,500 all in (including the land to build it on) thats around $4,000. By far the most expensive item was the floor tiles.

It is not grande but it is a million times better than the mud floored wooden hovel they lived in before.

 

That's why I say look at what they are upgrading from. If they are poor rice faremers in Isaan then you can dramatically improve their standard of living whilst at the same time spending very little.

 

My wife has since made them more or less self sufficient - bought land they farm and a fish farm (well small lake or large pond anyway) + around 200 ducks and chickens. She also bought them a motorbike which was supposed to take produce TO market but they actually make more buying meat bringing it BACK to the village and then selling "food" to the locals.

 

All in all we made the whole familey self-sufficient for around $6,000. Since that day we have never sent another penny and they are happy - their "standing" in the village has rocketed as they now EMPLOY other people.

 

At first it was a battle - the father LIKED the idea (pride) but the mother wanted the "cash" every month option. Now even the mum is happy.

 

I realise I have gone a little off track but I hope this post is useful. Its only a question of getting them to see the benefits of this kind of option.

[Gary 4,100]

What always amazes me is that farangs come up here way out in the boonies and spend all kinds of money for bogus companies and leases to try to protect themselves. They pay taxes and pay an accountant to file tax returns. The main point that they are missing is that if their relationship did fall apart there is NO way that they would want to live there alone so what's the point?

 

If you want to build a house and can easily afford it, go for it. If you spend more money than you can afford to walk away from then you are being stupid. I am very happy with my Thai wife but I will always remain a cynic. I would be quite surprised if we split up but it is always in the back of my mind that it could happen and I am prepared for it. Young guys can afford some mistakes because they can always earn more money. My working days are finished so I can't afford to take any major chances.

[carpediem 0]

whitespider, whether or not your post went off the topic i found it very useful. thanks. my gf wants me to renew her parents house (build them a new one i think, although she sometimes talks of just a new roof and some improvements). at present they live in a biggish but ramshackle wood house on stilts. she wants me to make a house nearby for us, on their land - the father will give her a hefty chunk of it. if i did this obviously i'd want to make a house i'd want to live in. and i'd like a thai or partly thai style house but with western bathroom & conveniences. on the other hand i entirely agree that if our relationship broke down i'd leave, so effectively i'd have to abandon the house.

 

i'm surprized by how little you say your gf's parents' cost. was it a diy job, or entirely on a commercial build contract? (i don't suppose you have a pic you'd be willing to post). is there a way i can get some rough-and-ready quotes for house building? websites of builders - whatever.

 

i too will have a similar problem to solve about providing for their sustenance - financially. apparently they have to clear a chunk of debt too. my plan is to provide a certain monthly amount now and insist that some of that goes to reduce the debt; to postpone the house-building decision for at least another year (assuming things continue to be ok) - and then look again at the question.

 

like gary i would never put all my eggs in that basket so i must keep down the expenditure; but i would also want to live in the best accommodation i could afford - for the not that long a time one has to enjoy it all. a conundrum.

 

but thanks for the benefit of the various experiences of you guys.

[Bullfrog 2,224]

Perhaps you should check out Petes mail "Tale from Issan" I think its called, then PM him

[jte 1]

My wife is saving her money to build a house in the Nakonsawan area. She has had her family check around for prices. She thinks she can build the house she wants, 3 bedrooms, 2 story, tile roof, tile through-out.... for about 500,000 bhat. She is working here in the US and wants a nice house.

If you get too far away from the style that the builders are used to I think your costs can go way up.

 

Ps I told her if she does not have a sit down toilet and hot shower I will stay in Pattaya and she can come visit me

Jim

[Bullfrog 2,224]

Hi Jte,

 

Please keep me updated on her progress..we are looking at building anywhere between Nakon sawan and Kamphaengphet...including Klong Klung / Tamaklua.Her estimate certainly seems very low unless she already owns the land.

 

I have to say I don't fancy NSWN as a town particulaly access and parking at the Big C.

[Larryst 7]

Only spend as much as you can walk away from.

[squirtfinder 0]

hi i built lovely bungalow up in phicit when i moved the wife and my two kids up there it cost about 530,000 2 years ago and is made from concrete mostly (cheaper than wood) i also bought a pick up truck new from mitsubishi which i sold about 4 months later easily for a good price cash to an english guy i have now bought a nissan car new which my wife drives (auto) as said before it is an insurance policy if anything happens to me and i am unable to work for a long period in the uk it can be sold to keep my family while i am recovering and remember that whatever you buy for the missus you will never see a return should you break up/ divorce so find a local builder decide what house you want get him to give you a price then buy the plans off him and then put it out to tender to other local builders and you will find a fair price then go back to the original builder and haggle out a price good luck, if you want some pics of house let me know

Edited October 9, 2006 by squirtfinder

[waerth 0]

Mmmmm I am wondering are these 500.000 baht including or excluding furniture. I have been uo to my gf's village in Udon Thani a couple of times and her familymembers have build nice, basic, houses for 100.000 to 200.000 baht (they build it with the family as most work in construction, so only expenses for materials). My gf and I talked about this and since her mother needs a new house as it floods every year and they have land we are currently saving 200.000 baht to build a house with one farangroom (sitting toilet and aircon). The family say they can do this easily for 200.000 baht (only I have to shell out an extra 20.000 for the aircon at a later date) The houses they build are nice and clean with tiling on the floor and reasonably big, only with Thai style toilets, but even for me and my parents it was nice enough to stay a couple of days.

 

Offcourse I understand that if me and my gf breakup I will loose this. But for 200.000 baht hey it is not a big nightmare even for me who is relatively on a budget.

 

So I wonder, and I would actually like to see pictures, what kind of houses do the others get for 500.000 baht?

 

Waerth

[som nam na 0]

Thinking of building a house in the village, the family don't own the land but there is a piece of land in the village its about 90 square wah and supposedly for sale. Its slap bang in the centre of the village about 300 m back from the main road in a built up area and bounded on two sides by the the "internal village track roads" also got electric alongside. Ok now the question, what should it cost to buy? Any input or advice would be appreiated.

Edited October 10, 2006 by som nam na

[Bullfrog 2,224]

I can't help you with the cost estimate but don't buy anything that far off the road unless you have your own access road.

 

Do you have water supply or is it pumped out of the ground each time you need it?

[som nam na 0]

sorry should have been clearer, its bounded on two sides by urban village access roads (can drive a car down them) and on two sides by other village properties. Suppose its the equivalent of a plot of land in a small village in farang land set back from the main road down a soi but amoungst other properties. Not sure about the water but the GF said we could sink a well.

Edited October 10, 2006 by som nam na

[Bullfrog 2,224]

So it looks like you will be pumping up water every couple of days.Shouldn't be a problem if you are not in any of the dryer parts of Isaan. I was in that situation where I lived.

 

As your property is set back from the road you will probably have to make your own septic tank. Make sure the access road is wide enough for the sewerage lorry to get through.

[som nam na 0]

thans, any idea as to the cost of the land?

[whitespider 1]

whitespider, whether or not your post went off the topic i found it very useful. thanks. my gf wants me to renew her parents house (build them a new one i think, although she sometimes talks of just a new roof and some improvements). at present they live in a biggish but ramshackle wood house on stilts. she wants me to make a house nearby for us, on their land - the father will give her a hefty chunk of it. if i did this obviously i'd want to make a house i'd want to live in. and i'd like a thai or partly thai style house but with western bathroom & conveniences. on the other hand i entirely agree that if our relationship broke down i'd leave, so effectively i'd have to abandon the house.

 

i'm surprized by how little you say your gf's parents' cost. was it a diy job, or entirely on a commercial build contract? (i don't suppose you have a pic you'd be willing to post). is there a way i can get some rough-and-ready quotes for house building? websites of builders - whatever.

 

i too will have a similar problem to solve about providing for their sustenance - financially. apparently they have to clear a chunk of debt too. my plan is to provide a certain monthly amount now and insist that some of that goes to reduce the debt; to postpone the house-building decision for at least another year (assuming things continue to be ok) - and then look again at the question.

 

like gary i would never put all my eggs in that basket so i must keep down the expenditure; but i would also want to live in the best accommodation i could afford - for the not that long a time one has to enjoy it all. a conundrum.

 

but thanks for the benefit of the various experiences of you guys.

 

Carpediem - sorry for the dealy in replying.

 

I am sorry, I don't have a scanner at the moment. I DO have pictures and if you PM me I will get some to you somehow. The pics I have are of the "unfinished" product - before the outside was rendered and painted but they give a good idea of size and construction. The whole job waqs done by a "local" builder assisted by my wifes father and 2 brothers. I had NO idea of the quality of the work done by the local builder but her father was happy with him so it was OK by me. the "family" wanted a stilted "job" but my wife insisted on a more western type house. We put the house and land in my wifes name, not the parents, just for future protection. Neother of us ever want to live there but its an investment, however little its worth, for our children. The total value of land, house, farm, fish farm probably exceeds 3 m baht now and even if it never comes to ME in any shape or form my wife woul ensuire that my kids get it.

 

 

Bullfrog - I have gone through the entire thread again. I have GREAT respect for your posts elsewhere but would like to take up what you said about "never living in the house again". This may well be true in reality but that would be a CHOICE not enforced. If your wife or her family buy the land (or YOU buy it but on their names) you can build AND OWN the house as a foreign individual.

 

Believe it or not Thai Law provides FULL security/protection for "house" ownership by a foreigner - you just cannot own the land its stands on. Obviously that brings its own inherant problems - I mean would you WANT to live in the house if you were being hounded - but you CAN!!

 

I accep that technically you are probably right, but only from the point of view that any sane person probably would not WANT to remain there. I think however it is worth pointing out that your owneship of the house CAN be protected under Thai Law.

 

I am not advocating it, but I feel it is a worthwhile point to make because people reading your post might think that house ownership is "impossible" and that is far from the truth. Get a good lawyer and its likely to be better than the one the "opposition can afford anyway.

[Bullfrog 2,224]

but would like to take up what you said about "never living in the house again". This may well be true in reality

 

 

Yes mate you did the correct thing to clarify for those that did not understand that I meant that it would be extremely unlikely you would CHOOSE to live in an isolated village by yourself.Although I did say "Even if you own it". Living in a town by yourself would be easier on your sanity aswell, as long as you spoke reasonable Thai of course..

 

 

Som nam na, Regarding the cost of the land I will be the first to put my cards on the table and say 100,000 to 200,000.

[squirtfinder 0]

530,000 baht two years ago 16 metres x 10 metres land half a rai in phicit near taphanhin 30,000 baht

[dave_boo 0]

I'm watching this thread with a great deal of interest, since I'm planning on doing the same.

 

However, I have a question for squirtfinder......Do you have any idea how much extra it would take to make a similar house, but with 3 bedrooms?